Carmel Hotel Guide :: The Bernardus Lodge

September 8, 2008 at 1:48 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

With staycations all the rage these days, we've decided to take a look at some of the best places in the U.S. for quick, close-to-home trips. Up first is Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small yet upscale town on the Monterey Peninsula. Known for its devotion to the arts and its celeb residents (Clint Eastwood was once mayor here), Carmel is also home to small hotels and inns galore. Enjoy.

Ok. File this one under Major Cubicle Dreamin' Destination. It's the Bernardus Lodge and we actually first heard about this place from from Perfect Escapes' Eric Jeck a few months back. And he told us to hit up the hotel as soon as possible.

The hotel is located in Carmel Valley, which is a few miles inland from town and the beaches. But if you're a wine-lover, this place is your place. The lodge has its own winery and most intriguingly, a "wine grotto mini-bar."

The hotel also a spa and meditation center on site with winery-inspired treatments like the Chardonny pedicure and the Cabernet mini-facial. Aside from a winery with a tasting room and a wine club, the Bernardus has a top-rated restaurant, Marinus.

The good life continues in the rooms which all come with a two-person bathtub (see HotelChatter's Guide to Great Hotel Sex, The Bathroom), a separate shower, stone fireplace, writing desk, French doors onto a private garden or balcony, king featherbed and free wireless, among other luxe amenities.

As for that "wine grotto mini-bar", all rooms have that too! It's a copper-top mini-bar that serves Bernardus wines, a welcome amenity and fresh fruit.

Just out of curiosity we checked the Perfect Escapes website and rates were going for $276 a night, but that was for a stay in January 2009. So if you are willing to plan ahead and visit in the off-season, you'll get this place for less. Otherwise, rates on the hotel's website start at around $425. We did see a "Last-minute Rate" for $295 but weekends are usually booked up.

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Tags: Carmel Hotel Guide / Carmel-Hotels-Guide / Staycation Hotels / Perfect Escapes / Winery Hotels / → All Tags